Located in front of the Bruges Court, 't Hof van Beroep was a late-night highlight from a recent holiday in Bruges.
The restaurant/bar is quirky and inviting, if you aren't looking for the typical Belgian fare. A warning of items not found at van Beroep--Belgian frites and mussels--hangs to the right of the door frame. A giant red gnome sits behind the bar, near a bumper sticker suggesting a sexual preference for midgets. The restaurant's house cat lingers shyly between tables and stools. Warm, red lights shone on a fantastic gin selection sitting away from the other liquor.
We introduce ourselves to the bartender Lubka while apologizing for our poor French. Any worry immediately dissipates as Lubka maintains conversations with various guests in English, French, and Dutch, simultaneously. She makes us feel immediately welcome in Bruges and takes great pride in pouring the perfect beer, also flaunting some foundling skills crafting cocktails.
While we didn't try any food, we enjoyed our time immensely. The drinks were fantastic and the restaurant was chic, but the highlight was Lubka's service. She shared with us secrets of the city and made many great suggestions for our Belgian vacation. We actually extended our stay in the city an extra day to try some of her other suggestions. The restaurant had a good "soul," and Lubka was the perfect emissary for the town. read more